The importance of enzymesSpec 1.12
Chemical reactions in living things would be far too slow to keep us alive without enzymes. Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up reactions in cells. They are needed both to build large molecules and to break them down.
| Large molecule | Made (synthesised) from | Broken down into |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | Sugars | Sugars |
| Proteins | Amino acids | Amino acids |
| Lipids | Fatty acids and glycerol | Fatty acids and glycerol |
Different enzymes catalyse each of these reactions, because enzymes are specific. Breaking down large molecules into small ones is a vital job, and so is building the carbohydrates, proteins and lipids the body needs.